Wound-closing device.



No. 7|5,6l2. Patented Dec. 9, I902.

G; J. VAN SGHOTT.

WOUND CLOSING DEVICE.

{Application 11106. Ma 23, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERARD JOHN VAN SOHOTT, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND OSCAR DRESSLER, OF PASSAIO, NEW JERSEY.

WOUND-CLOSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 715,612, dated December .9, 1902.

Application filed May 23, 1902. Serial No. 108,661. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, GERARD JOHN VAN SCHOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Wound-Closing Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to surgery; and its object is to provide a new and improved wound-closing device arranged to permit the surgeon or other person to quickly and conveniently close up a superficial flesh wound without the use of plasters or resorting to sewing with needle and thread, as heretofore generally practiced.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters" of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement as applied to a wound on a human arm. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the same in the act of applying the closing device. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the tool for applying the closing device. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the improvement andthe means employed for opening the device after the wound has healed. Fig. 5 is an edge view of a modified form of the improvement and the tool for applying the same, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The improved wound-closing device consists, essentially, of a clip A, made of flexible but non-resilient metal,.preferably aluminium, and the said clip may be produced from a small piece of metal, either of a flat or band shape, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4., or in the shape of a piece of wire, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The clip A is formed at its ends with pins B, preferably struck up from the metal and with outwardly-extending eyes G, adapted to fit into recesses D, formed on the prongs of a tool D, such as a pair of tongs, as illustrated in the drawings, the said eyes 0 being also adapted to be engaged by the free endsof rods E, employed for opening the clip after the wound has healed. (See Fig. 4.)

Now in using thedevice the operator presses the clip in an open position between the prongs of the tongs D, so that the eyes 0 are seated in the recesses I), and then the'oper ator takes hold of the skin at opposite sides of the Wound and presses the skin together and then applies the clip over the skin parts pressed together and then closes the prongs,

so that the clip A firmly clamps the sides of the skin, and at the same time the pins 13 pass through the skin, so as to hold the clip in a clamped position on the skin. (See Fig. 2.) By the arrangement described the wound is very quickly closed and the skin securely held in a closed position over the wound to allow the latter to heal. When the wound has healed, the operator takes holdof the eyes 0 by the ends of the rods E and then pulls the latter in opposite directions, so that the clip is opened and the pins B pass out of the flesh and the side members of the clip disengage the sides of the skin to allow removal of the device.

When the clip Ais made of wire, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, then I prefer to employ a tool F, having in its prongs F lengthwiseextending grooves F for the reception of the side bars of the clip A. 'The device is applied in the same manner as above described.

It is understood that any number of closing devicesmay be applied on a single Wound, according to the. length thereofland it will also be seen that after the device has been opened after it has been used on the wound it can be used again on another wound, if desired.

The device can be very cheaply manufactured and readily applied and removed with out causing undue pain to the patient.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A wound-closing device comprising a flexible, non-resilient clip of approximately U shape for clamping the skin on opposite sides of the wound, pins extending integrally toward each other from the inside of the clip, at or near the ends thereof, and loops at the ends of the clip for the insertion of tools to T In testimony whereof I have signed my open the clip, as set forth. name to this specification in the presence of 2. A wound-closing device, consisting, of a two subscribing Witnesses. flexible non-resilient U-shaped clip having GERARD JOHN VAN SOHOTT.

5 its members bent to form eyes and the ex- Witnesses:

tremities of said members bent inwardly to l JAS. A. SULLIVAN,

form pins as set forth. I EMMA O. WALSH. 

